As we work to keep calm and carry on, locally, following Tuesday’s general election, our staff and partners are celebrating a significant win: voter approval of ballot issue 7A.
Voters in the Denver metro region approved the Regional Transportation District (RTD) 7A ballot question, allowing the transit agency to keep the revenue it raises every year instead of refunding some of it under Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). At risk was as much as 10% of RTD’s budget, about $60 million a year.
“The Boulder Chamber is thankful to our voters for their demonstration of support for regional transit service in their passage of Ballot Measure 7A,” said Boulder Chamber President and CEO John Tayer. “Preserving RTD’s funding is a vote of confidence in achieving further enhancements to our transit system as we work to meet the regional mobility needs of our workforce and residents.”
In an RTD press release posted Wednesday, Debra A. Johnson, RTD General Manager and CEO said, “Approval of this ballot measure reaffirms the region’s commitment to public transit. It allows RTD to continue focusing on the Denver metro area’s current and future mobility needs and avoids potential negative impacts to RTD’s current revenue sources.”
A broad coalition came together as part of the Keep Transit Moving campaign to help pass 7A. The campaign garnered endorsements from more than 100 organizations, business groups and elected officials, including:
- Several Chambers of Commerce, including Boulder, Denver and Broomfield
- Every elected RTD board member
- The Metro Mayors Caucus, including mayors from Arvada, Boulder, Denver, Golden and Littleton
- AARP
- Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
- NAACP CO/WY/MT State Conference
- Commuting Solutions
- Downtown Denver Partnership
- Greater Denver Transit
- Servicios de la Raza
- Denver Streets Partnership
“From Nederland and the Foothills to the edge of the Great Plains, RTD’s buses and trains give people more freedom and options to go to work, school, shopping or a Broncos game,” said Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, which spearheaded the campaign. “Transit cuts pollution and is a safer and cheaper way to travel without a car. We started the year with the legislature and Governor investing historic funding in transit and we’re ending the year with voters across our region saying yes to keep transit moving forward. 2024 has been the year of transit.”
On Wednesday, November 13, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, Boulder Chamber Transportation Connections and RTD staff will show our appreciation for transit riders and drivers at the bus stop at Broadway and Euclid Avenue, on the west side of Broadway (southbound). Stop by for a treat, pick up some stickers and information resources, and bask in our appreciation!